THE STAR FISH* 30? 



Extraordinary mode of catching its prey. 



THE ARBORESCENT STAR FISH. 



THIS is a very singular species, which is 

 occasionally found in most seas, but never in 

 any great number. It is described by Shaw as 

 having five equi-distant, thickly-jointed processes 

 proceeding from its centre, each of which is 

 divided into two other small ones, and each of 

 these into two others still smaller; and this mode 

 of regular subdivision is continued to a vast ex- 

 tent, and in the most beautiful gradation of mi- 

 nuteness, till at length the number of extreme 

 ramifications sometimes amount to several thou- 

 sands. One specimen, that measured three feet 

 across, had five hundred and twelve extremities 

 to each ray ; so that in this the whole number 

 was two thousand five hundred and sixty. By 

 this most curious structure the animal becomes > 

 as it were, a living net, and is capable of catcb> 

 ing such creatures as are by nature destined for 

 its prey, by the sudden contraction of its innu- 

 merable ramifications; and the unfortunate ob- 

 jects are secured by these beyond ail possibility 

 of escape. 



The color of this fish when it is alive, or but 

 just dead, is a reddish or deep carnation, but on 

 being dried it becomes somewhat grey. It 

 should be dried in the shade, in some open place, 

 where the wind has free access to it; for in the 

 sun it is apt to dissolve, and if placed too much 

 in the shade it frequently becomes putrid. 



